MommaJam on 95.9 WATD-FM: Keeping Kids Safe After School, Part 1

According to Cultural Care AuPair, Cambridge, Mass., there has been a 20 percent increase in the number of Massachusetts families using au pair services in the past year or so.

Cultural Care AuPair attributes this increase largely to rising childcare costs. Massachusetts has the second-highest cost of childcare in the country, and for many families it is their largest expense, topping even their mortgage.

“This trend, in general, is a reaction to the cost of child care,” says Kerry Lavin, local development director, Cultural Care AuPair. “With an au pair, you are paying per family not per child.”

Another trend is a rise in male au pairs, with a 50 percent increase in the number of male au pairs placed on the South Shore from 2012 to 2013, according to Cultural Care AuPair, the only certified service that offers male au pairs for families. “Male au pairs are popular because they provide a big brother feel to kids and can help channel the energy of busy boys,” says Lavin.

Now that kids are back in school, families are busy than ever. “Back to school can actually be a busier time for families and an au pair provides an extra set of hands,” says Lavin.